engine
 

can i bore a 1960 283 to 4 inch bore safely

Best way to find out is have it sonic tested.

TS1955

x2. Back in the day, we would bore +.060 to make a 292 screamer.

engine
 

I think it would be easier to just start with a 350 block.

I did bore one to 4.00 in the early 60's making a 301" and got away with it, it ran damn good in my 55Chevy 4 dr. but i'm not suggesting that every blk will bore to 4.00.

Zip.

Re: engine
 

Sonic test first as I have seen some that will and some that will not!!!

Unless you have a high dollar set of pistons that you absolutely MUST use on this build, I wouldn't even worry about it. The HP gain from a handful of inches is no where worth the headache you could create for yourself. Just cram a bunch of compression in the motor and a some GOOD parts in the valvetrain and let her rip. I love hearing those old small cubic inch motors screaming at 8000+ rpm. Ya gotta love it. It makes me reminisce about times that were before my time :?

Bore 283
 

Let me summarize. Can you bore a 283 to 4"? Yes. Have guys done it without sonic testing the block? Yes. Were they lucky? Most were. The purpose of sonic testing is because during machining operations on a new block, there is room for error. You want to call that core shift? Bottom line is if the machined bore is not in the center of the cylinder casting, there most likely will not be enough meat on the short side to allow the motor to survive. So you put the dough in it and then waste all those parts... My solution to that dilemma was to find an old 327 with a small journals, and put the 283 crank in it. Good luck.

Hell just find a 350 block put the Clevite MS 1110 H bearings you can use a small journal crank in a large journal block!!!